Gingival Grafting

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Instructions After Gingival Grafting

These instructions have been provided to you after a gingival or connective tissue grafting procedure. To reduce your risk for healing complications, we suggest that you do the following:

Periodontal Dressing:

A periodontal dressing has been placed in your mouth to protect the treated area and promote healing. This dressing will take approximately 30-mins to harden, during which time you should not eat or drink.
The dressing may not remain in place until your post-operative appointment. Do not be alarmed if the dressing becomes loose or pieces break off during the healing period.

First 24-hours:

Do not rinse your mouth, or consume hot foods/fluids for 24-hours.
During the first 24-hours, drink and eat only cold/soft or cool/soft food and beverages
Avoid alcohol
After 24-hours you may rinse with warm saltwater or an alcohol-free mouthwash
After 24 hours, you may begin brushing and flossing your teeth as usual, but do not brush or floss the area(s) where surgery was performed.
After 24-hours have passed, eat a semi-soft diet of fruit juice, yogurt, eggs, fish, ground meat, stew, cooked vegetables, pasta, soup, etc.
As a rule, avoid foods which are hard, sharp, spicy, or contain small seeds.

Bleeding:

Bloody streaks in the saliva for the first 4- to 5-hours is not unusual. If there is considerable bleeding beyond this time, fold a piece of gauze and apply it to the outside of the periodontal dressing. Hold the gauze firmly in place for 15-mins and do not remover the gauze during this period.
Repeat if necessary. If bleeding persists, contact the office.
Do not exercise of exert yourself. Increased activity levels raise the heart rate and blood pressure, which increases bleeding from the surgical site. Do not engage in contact sports until you have returned to the office to have the periodontal dressing and sutures removed.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING YOUR SURGICAL PROCEDURE, THE ANESTHETIC, OR ANY OF THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE DISCUSS THEM WITH YOUR SURGEON PRIOR TO TREATMENT.